13 Ahmed Chalabi Quotes

Ahmed Chalabi quotes

1. America betrays its friends. It sets them up and betrays them. I'd rather be America's enemy.

1. We need a united front against Islamic State and Assad happens to be the decisive power that can fight them. But the situation is preposterous because we also have to respect the calls for change. I would be in favor of a dignified change.

2. You know the most important thing the Americans did for Iraq apart from liberating the country from Saddam was helping Iraq reduce its debt. The United States worked very hard to reduce 80 percent of Iraqi debt.

3. Maliki saw Islamic State as a way to exert pressure. If I am not re-elected, terror will befall you - that was his message.

4. I did more than anyone else in persuading the U.S. to get rid of Saddam.

5. We are not panicking because we know that Islamic State cannot conquer the capital.

6. The Kurds know that they won't achieve their own state by force of arms but through international recognition. And they have certainly heard what the German foreign minister said in connection with the arms deliveries: There is no Kurdish state. But that shouldn't prevent the Kurds from continuing to develop their own institutions. Still, the best thing for them would be to remain a part of Iraq, but in return we must treat them with respect - their nationality, their language and their culture.

7. The view that we hold in Iraq now is this - that democracy is associated with elections. I believe that elections are possible.

8. All Iraqis can unite to defeat terrorism and can unite to rebuild the country.

9. To handle the economy and services in a country like Iraq requires delegation of authority and the choice of competent people.

10. The battle against terrorism is not only a military fight but primarily a battle of information.

11. It's customary when great events happen that the U.S. punishes its friends and rewards its enemies.

12. What was said before is not important.